Johor bans talks by Mufti Menk, Ustaz Bollywood
JOHOR BARU: Johor has banned the Grand Mufti of Zimbabwe Ismail Menk and Malaysian Ustaz Haslin Baharim from delivering religious talks in the state after their speeches were found to contain elements deemed detrimental to national unity and racial harmony.
The announcement comes after the two preachers were barred from entering Singapore after authorities in the republic found that their teachings to contravene the republic's multi-cultural and multi-religious values.
Singapore also said that their views could breed intolerance and were a risk to its social harmony.
Johor Religious Affairs Executive Committee chairman Abd Mutalip Abd Rahim said the move follows a decree by the Sultan of Johor Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, which was issued today.
"The content of religious talks previously delivered by the two preachers is seen as liable to raise anxiety (with regard to) racial harmony.
"The Johor Islamic Religious Department will continue to monitor (all) religious talks delivered in the state in order to ensure that they do not contain elements or opinions that could lead to racial disunity," said Mutalip.
On Tuesday, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said that Malaysia has no plan to bar Menk and Haslin, who is popularly known as Ustaz Bollywood, from giving talks in the country as they have not run afoul of the country's laws.
Zahid said during their time in Malaysia, the two preachers have not said anything that could cause conflict or disharmony among the country’s multi-cultural and multi-racial community. © New Straits Times
